Universally mounted archery bow handle



Aug. 20, 1968 B. G. WALKER 3,397,685

UNIVERSALLY MOUNTED ARCHERY BOW HANDLE Filed Aug. 9, 1965 Era@ United States Patent O 3,397,685 UNIVERSALLY MOUNTED ARCHERY BOW HANDLE Beeby G. Walker, 131 N. Nicholson Ave.,

Monterey Park, Calif. 91754 Filed Aug. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 478,103 3 Claims. (Cl. 124-24) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A handle or gripping device is disclosed for use in holding an archery bow, so as to simplify the avoidance by the archer of heeling, toeing and torquing of the bow during use. The tension applied to the bow string by the drawn arrow is transmitted to the bow, but the handle, being movably coupled to the bow, does not heel, toe or torque.

A bow is delined as a weapon comprising a strip of elastic material such as wood, with a string connecting the two ends, by means of which an arrow is propelled. There are three kinds of bows, depending upon their usage: the target bow for target shooting, the flight bow for distance shooting, and the hunting bow for hunting. All three kinds are made according to specified principles, and the only essential dilference between them is their dimensions.

Yew bows for experienced men are generally from 5 ft. 6 in. to 6 ft. in length and weight from 36 to 80 pounds. The weight of a how indicates the force required to fully draw its arrow. Thirty-six to 40 pounds is weak for a yew bow and of little use beyond 60 yards. Forty-tive to 50 pounds is satisfactory for most men, with 55 to 60 pounds being excellent at 100 yards. Greater weights are used mainly in hunting and distance shooting.

A bow ordinarily has upper and lower limbs separated by a grip or handle. Each limb terminates in a tip or nock, which may be merely a notch cut in the wood at the end of the limb. The upper limb is generally about 2 inches longer than the lower limb, yand as a consequence of this difference in the length of the limbs, the bowyer or archer has to hold the bow in such a way as to compensate therefor. When the bow is fully drawn, the limbs must be equalized, or come compass, if the arrow is to travel correctly.

In the sport of archery, which is the art and practice of shooting with the bow and arrow, the archer holds the bow cradled loosely in one hand, called the bowhand, and the arrow with the other hand, called the drawing-hand. The arrow shaft has a nock or notched end which is placed against the string attached to the bow nocks. The arrow is drawn lback with the string, bending the bow, and released or loosed. The force from the string propels the arrow away from the bow at a high velocity.

During the process of drawing back the arrow, it is necessary to avoid heeling, toeing and torquing of the bow, in order for the archer to be able to aim accurately at a desired target.

When the archer holds the bow low, that is, below the midpoint, or when he exerts more pressure on the lower portion of his hand against the bow, the lower end of the bow bends more than the upper end, causing the arrow rto rise higher than desired. This is defined as heeling Toeing is the reverse, that is, holding the bow high, or above the midpoint, or exerting more pressure on the higher portion of the hand against the bow. This causes the upper end of the bow t-o bend more than the lower end, and results in the arrow travelling lower than desired.

3,397,685 Patented Aug. 20, 1968 lee Left torquing is dened as the situation that results when the arche-r twists his bow-hand clockwise, looking down, as by bending his wrist outward from the bow, which causes the arrow to go more towards the right than desired.

Right torquing is the reverse, that is, twisting the hand holding the bow counter-clockwise, looking down, as by bending the wrist in toward the bow, which causes the arrow to travel more towards the left than desired.

It has been found that a common fault among archers, especially beginners but including those more expert, is the tendency to heel, toe and torque the bow. The archer must become very proficient and devote much eiort if he is to avoid heeling, toeing and torquing of the bow. He must be very careful to place his hand exactly in the midpoint of the bow and to exert an even pressure on the upper and lower portion of his hand, in order to bend the upper and lower ends of the bow evenly. He must avoid twisting his hand.

Another difficulty that arises is that in order to try to do nothing that will interfere with the free action of the bow, it is common to cradle or suspend the bow in the hand with nothing to hold it in position except the pressure against the hand. The iingers are not closed on the bow handle until after the arrow has cleared the bow. This requires accurate timing, which requires much practice. If the lingers are closed on the bow handle too soon, free bow action will be lost. If the ngers are closed on the bow handle too late, the bow will fall from the archers hand to the ground.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a novel bow for archery.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an archery bow which simplies the avoidance by an archer of heeling and toeing.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an archery bow which simplies the avoidance by an archer of torquing.

According to one embodiment of the present invention an archery bow comprises a handle or gripping device which is pivotally coupled to the main portion of the bow. The archer holds the handle and pushes against it. The tension applied to the bow string by the drawn arrow is transmitted to the bow, causing it to move accordingly, but since the handle is pivotally coupled thereto, the handle neither heels, toes nor torques.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particlarity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side view of an archery bow handle according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary rear view of the upper portion of the bow shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing the bow handle in detail.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a different embodiment of the present invention based on FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side view of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Turning now to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 show grip or handle 11 connected between upper limb 13 and lower limb 15 of bow 17. Metal shaft 19 of mounting support 21 passes through handle 11 and is imbedded in the top end of lower limb 15. Support 21 is screwed or bolted to the lower end of upper limb 13.

Brace 25, which can be made of a light metal such as aluminum, is screwed at the upper end 27 thereof to the central or lower end of upper limb 13. Lower end 29 of brace 25 is screwed to the upper or central end of lower limb 15. Brace 25 is somewhat U-shaped and serves to support limbs 13 and 15 rigidly in place with respect to each other. The angle represents the angular displacement of the bow 17 in the vicinity of ends 27 and 29 of brace 25 with respect to the vertical plane, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The upper end of limb 13 terminates in neck 31 having notch 33 therein to receive string 35. The lower end of limb is nock 37 having notch 39 therein to receive the other end of string 35. The length of string 35 is such that the forces exerted upon the extremities of limbs 13 and 15 by brace 25 maintain string 35 in a taut condition.

It has been found that by varying 0, as by bending ends 27 and 29 of brace 25, it is possible to lvary the force required to draw the bow. Thus, a decrease in 6 by about one degree will increase the pull of a 40-pound bow to about 42 pounds. Conversely, an increase in 0 by about one degree will decrease the pull of a 40-pound bow to about 38 pounds. The decrease in R can be achieved by placing a wedge-shaped shim 40 between ends 27 and 29 and limbs 13 and 15, respectively, with the wide part of each wedge 40 facing toward the center of bow 17. An increase in 6 can be achieved by facing the wide part of each wedge 40 away from the center of bow 17.

Arrow 41 is shown with shaft 43 supported by arrow -rest 45 and with string 35 inserted within notch 47. Arrow `shafts made of spruce have long been found to be very satisfactory. Limbs 13 and 15 can be made of yew or laminated glass and wood; and string 35 can be made from hemp or Dacron.

FIGURE 3 shows the internal construction of handle 11. Wooden handle 11 has cylindrical bore 51 passing vertically through the center thereof. Hollow metal cylinder 53 is xedly inserted within bore 51 by a pressure fit. Shaft 19 either can be manufactured integrally with spherical ball member 55, or shaft 19 can be made in two segments, each welded to an opposite pole of ball member 55. Disc-shaped socket member 57 is immovably force fit within cylinder S3 at a location approximately 1A `of the way down from the upper extremity of cylinder 53, the location depending upon the way the archer holds the bow and how badly he heels, toes, or torques. xBall member 55 and socket member 57 cooperate as a ball and socket joint and can be manufactured as a single unit.

The lower end of shaft 19 is screwed into metal insert 61, which is screwed into upper end 63 of limb 15. The reason for insert 61, is that if metal shaft 19 were screwed directly into wooden upper limb 15, the joint would be weak and unsatisfactory, because of the relatively narrow 1A inch diameter of shaft 19. Metal support 21 can be screwed to the lower end of limb 13, and brace 25 can be mounted upon limbs 13 and 15 by similar inserts.

To shoot arrow 41 from bow 17, the archer can grip handle 11 with his left hand, and draw arrow 41 back with string 35 with his right hand. T-he entire bow is free to pivot upon ball 55 and socket 57 within handle 11. Thus, instead of heeling vor toeing, the bow is free to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and instead of torquing, the bow is free to pivot clockwise or counter-clockwise about an axis lying in the plane of the drawing.

The internal diameter of cylinder 53 need only be large enough to accommodate the maximum pivoting desired, and is preferably about 2% inches. The dimensions and external configuration of handle 11 is a matter of choice and need only be such as to be convenient to hold in the hand. Brace 25 must be strong enough to maintain the ends of limbs 13 and 15 in the vicinity of handle 11 in fixed relationship with respect to each other, so as to keep shaft 19 relatively free of the considerable forces involved in using bow 17 to shoot arrows. If it is desired to eliminate brace 25, shaft 19 would have to be made of a diameter suiciently large to withstand the forces that will be present for the intended -weight of the bow.

FIGURE 4 shows a variation within handle 11. The only difference between FIGURES 3 and 4 is that in the latter there is a second ball and socket joint provided. Thus, shaft 71 of support 72 bears balls 73 and 75 within sockets 77 and 79, respectively. Each socket 77 and 79 is force tit within cylinder 53 equidistant from the upper and lower extremities thereof.

It has been found that the variation shown in FIGURE 4 is easier for beginners to use, because it eliminates the necessity of making certain that shaft 19 does not come in direct contact with one of the open extremities of cylinder 53 during the release of the arrow. If shaft 1'9 does contact one of the open extremities of cylinder 53 directly, they will not be pivotally coupled by means of ball 55 and socket 57, and the advantages of the invention will be lost. As a consequence of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, therefore, handle 11 will eliminate torquing, but not heeling or toeing, since shaft 71 is not free to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. After the beginner has practiced a little, he will be able t-o use the single ball and socket 'arrangement of FIGURE 3, and will be able to keep shaft 19 free of cylinder 53.

The double ball and socket joint arrangement shown in FIGURE 4 could be eliminated by making shaft 71 with a diameter almost as large as the internal diameter of cylinder 53, and by filling the space therebetween with grease, to minimize friction. Shaft 71 would then be free to pivot Within cylinder 53, and torquing would be eliminated. Heeling and toeing, however, would not be eliminated.

FIGURE 5 shows a `different embodiment in which crescent-shaped handle or grip 81 is pivotally coupled to mid-region 83 where upper limb 85 joins lower limb 87 by means of a single ball bearing 89. Flexible connector 91 can be Vrubber which is cemented between grip 81 and the crescent-shaped concave portion of mid-regi-ou 83, to prevent grip 81 from dropping out. The use of this em- `bodiment will enable the archer to place the pushing pressure on the bow at the same position for every arrow shot, and to eliminate heeling, toeing and torquing of the bow.

FIGURE 6 shows a still different embodiment and bears the same relationship to FIGURE 5 that FIGURE 4 bears to FIGURE 3. Thus, handle or grip 93 is pivotally coupled to mid-region 95 where upper limb 97 joins lower limb 99 by means of two ball bearings 101 and 103. Flexible rubber connector is cemented between grip 93 and the crescent-shaped concave portion of mid-region 95.

When using the bows shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the archer keeps his fingers open and clear of mid-regions 83 and 95, and supports grips `81 and 93 against the open palm of his lbow-hand. The pressure applied by drawing the bow string prevents the bow from dropping out of his bow-hand, until the arrow land string are released.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its :broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications yas fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. An archery bow comprising:

(a) `upper and lower limbs joined at a mid-region having a crescent-shaped concavity opening onto the belly area of the bow;

(b) handle means comprising a portion positioned in said concavity and of a shape complementary thereto; and

(c) means joining saidhandle means to said concavity for limited universal movement of said handle means relative to said concavity when the bow string is drawn, said joining means including a exible connecting material coupled to said concavity and to said portion.

2. An .archery bow as defined in lclaim 1 in which said handle means is crescent-shaped and is pivotally coupled to said concavity by a ball and socket joint.

3. An archery bow as defined in claim 2 in which said handle means is coupled to said concavity by at least two ball and socket joints.

References Cited 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,957,469 10/1960 Wilkerson 124-24 3,207,146 9/ 1965 Grable 124-24 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. l0 W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner, 

